Halloween is always a potentially dangerous night filled with parties, costumes, alcohol, and the potential to make poor decisions when it comes to transportation. It is even more disturbing when the actions of a city only exacerbate the ability to make a poor decision. This was the position that the City of Rochester chose to take this summer when they suspended ride sharing programs like Lyft. I am fully aware that there are legal lines and issues drawn in the sand around the concept of ride sharing in a city, but at what point do we take a step off our soapbox pedestals and take public safety into concern?

Drinking and driving is an issue that has affected far too many people, either directly or indirectly. According to statistics on www.madd.org one out of every 2,000 car trips taken by Americans involves a drunk driver. I’m willing to bet that if we looked at a timeframe of 7pm-2am that number would drop significantly. Couple this with the fact that one out of three traffic deaths involves drunk driving. If these are the numbers, why does a city promote making these choices by not allowing safe options to be available for their residents?

I honestly have no answer to that question. On Halloween, I spent much more time than would ever be necessary trying to find cabs. Once for a party-goer who desperately needed to get home with the help of a friend, and twice for myself. This should involve 3 phone calls, lasting no more than a minute, maybe two. In order to help this complete stranger get home safely, I spent 20 minutes outside on the phone trying to get in contact with several cab companies. On my 4th call to one of the seven companies who would not answer their phone, I finally got a ride to come – in 30 minutes. In the hour it took me just to get a cab to the house, who knows what unfortunate events could have occurred. For my last ride of the night, I walked to a main road and physically hailed down a cab. I can only imagine how the person he was going to pick up got home when their cab never arrived.

While I continued to make the right choice, there are many people who did not. After you’ve been trying to get a ride for a half hour, and you have your keys in your pocket, an unfortunately high number of people may chose to simply “get home.” It’s a recipe for tragedy. Recently, I took a trip to San Diego, a city which allows Lyft, Uber, and RideShare to operate. There was never a moment when I didn’t have a safe and sober ride minutes away. This should be the rule, not the exception, as it is in Rochester. Halloween simply highlighted the need for our city government to re-evaluate their stance. Taxi cab companies do a majority of their business from the airport, as I understand. Fine. Take a lesson from San Diego, where only Uber has airport access – something they were just recently granted, according to my driver who brought me to my friend’s apartment. Allow our cab companies exclusive rights to the airport, and let every single person have access to safe and sober rides at any time by reinstating ride sharing.

It is time for the City of Rochester to put public safety back on its agenda. I have lived here for 3 years now, and I hope to call this city home for the rest of my life. With that said, I hope no one else has to experience a debacle like Halloween 2014 because our city is insensitive to the safety needs of the population. Let’s focus on public safety, and bring ride sharing back to Rochester.

Women represent only about 25 percent of jobs in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). But these are the fastest-growing jobs. In fact, by 2018, 9 out of 10 of the fastest- growing jobs in the U.S. will require significant training in science and math.

What’s most interesting: Girls are interested in these fields, they just aren’t pursuing them. A Girl Scout Research Institute study found that 74% of teen girls say they are interested in STEM. Something between their K-12 education and obtaining a career is preventing more women from entering these fields, and I believe every girl should have the right to dream about a future they want, but in order to do that, they need to have all the options on the table. They need not be discouraged from a topic that interests them.

Did you know that girls used to dominate science classrooms? In her talk at the Leadership Breakfast Series in Rochester on September 19, Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D., will showcase some of the women science mavericks of history. She’ll share her own path for how she became a scientist and will send an inspirational message for why we need more girls in science. Our future depends on it!

Ainissa Ramirez, Ph.D., at a TED talk

For anyone with an interest in science or STEM, girls issues, or women’s equality, this is sure to be an informative, exciting discussion. It’s likely even football lovers will enjoy hearing from Dr. Ramirez, who co-wrote a book called Newton’s Football, whichexplains the science behind one of America’s favorite pastimes.

It is so important that today’s girls – your daughters, your nieces, your cousins and your future colleagues – are encouraged to explore all of their interests, even the ones traditionally thought of as being “just for boys”.

Proceeds from the Leadership Breakfast Series will help to provide leadership programming for girls who live right here in Rochester. Learn more about this event or purchase your tickets at gswny.org.

Did you know that Rochester Animal Services by law cannot turn away an animal from the Verona Street Animal Society’s shelter? This means that even when the shelter reaches capacity, which they currently have, they still take in the many homeless animals that show up at their door. On average, the shelter takes in 6,000 animals per year from the Rochester area.

In hopes of making more room and finding the animals a forever home, this Saturday, July 19th, Verona Street’s animal shelter will have free cat adoptions and all dog adoptions will be $8.50. The hours of the adoption will be between 11am and 3 pm. They close at 4:30pm.

The animals up for adoption this Saturday have been spayed/neutered, are up to date on shots, are micro chipped and include a coupon for a free wellness visit. Each dog has had their temperament tested and checked for behavioral problems including aggression and how well they interact with other dogs.

“It’s not about making money, it’s about finding homes for each pet. For every pet that gets adopted, two lives are saved. We save the adopted pet plus make room for another to be given the same chance,” says Diedra Kirk, Director & Development Chair of Verona Street Animal Society.

The $8.50 adoption fee covers the State Registration Fee required with an adoption of a dog. After July 19th, all pets are $50 off.

You will often hear this quote from local artist Cordell Cordaro, 35, of Rochester, a man who has made a career by doing what he loves. Cordaro has a whimsical style all his own and his unique fan base recently opened up a new door along his artistic journey.

Eight dancers will come together on July 18 and 19 at MuCCC Theater to bring life to Cordaro’s dancers and tell his story. Cordaro World: A Call to Adventure will paint a picture of an artist’s journey through a stunning blend of dance and mixed media.

Amber Brescia, 37, of Rochester, Artistic Director at Catalyst Dance Works and Dance Teacher at Eastridge High School, has used Cordaro’s artwork to inspire her dancers. “Cordell’s paintings challenge the traditional notion of what dancers should be,” Brescia shared, “The dancers in the paintings actually look three dimensional and human. They are more than just stick figures; they have mass.”

The dancers that will be featured in the concert resonate with the hero’s journey that Cordaro experienced while becoming a professional artist. “Every artist encounters self-doubt or obstacles that they must soul seek to overcome,” reflected Brescia. The collaboration on this piece has given Cordaro, Brescia and each dancer in the troop a chance to further explore and develop the artist within. One troop member, Morgan Bernat, 23, of Brockport, said “The process has been reflective of my own journey as an artist. There is a definite vulnerability as you struggle through the transitions and take risks to follow your dreams.”

Miranda Martin, 28, of Spencerport, and Erin O’Hara, 32, of Gates, bring great experience to the troop as the owners of Studio 19 Dance Company. They deeply value teaching the inspiration behind a good piece and not just the fundamentals. “Dance can be a recreational activity and not just about form and good lines,” shared Martin. Cordaro World has given both women an opportunity to explore the “perfect imperfection” to human movement. They expressed that “all artists and non-artists can relate to the show and its universal themes of humanity.”

To learn more about Cordaro World or Artist Cordell Cordaro, please visit www.cordellcordaro.com. Tickets for opening night are sold out, but there will be an encore presentation of Cordaro World at RAPA during Fringe Festival.

The weather is finally hot in Rochester so you’re probably on the move to concerts, weddings, boating days and more. You have a million things on your mind and are constantly out of the house, eager to enjoy the few months of beautiful weather we actually get. But while you’re out there enjoying these hot summer days, don’t forget the safety of your pets. Here are some tips to keep you and your fur babies safe and happy this summer:

1) Provide a cool air flow for your pet in your home. If you don’t have central air, or don’t want to leave your A/C on while you’re at work, make sure you leave windows open to allow fresh air to enter your home. Keep lights off and shades covering most of the window to keep it shady indoors. If you can, leave a small fan on in a nice spot for them to lay and relax while you’re gone.

2) Keep water fresh. Change water often and keep their bowl filled. Don’t put ice in the water to prevent choking hazards but make sure that the water is kept cool throughout the day. If your pet is able to go to different levels of the home, keep fresh water on both levels.

3) Check your pet for tick bites. It’s tick season and bites in Upstate New York are on the rise. If you find a tick on your pet, rub the area with rubbing alcohol and remove the tick with tweezers. Then put the tick in a small container of alcohol so it will not attack again. Do not just throw it in the trash. Make sure to call your veterinarian as ticks carry a variety of diseases in pets.

4) DO NOT LEAVE PETS IN YOUR VEHICLE. This might seem obvious, but you would be surprised at how many people leave their pets in their cars on a hot day to just “stop in” a store. I don’t know about you, but I can’t get in and out of a store quickly. Between finding everything I need and lines when cashing out, it is likely to take at least 10 minutes minimum. Remember that whatever the temperature is outside, it is a lot warmer on the inside of the vehicle. Leave windows rolled down enough for good air flow and truly make it a quick stop if you must. Otherwise, you might return to a broken window from an animal lover or worse, a heat exhausted pet.

5) Don’t feed pets picnic food. It is the season for BBQ’s, cookouts and picnics and with all of the extra food around, you might want to share the love with your furry friends. Human food can be toxic to animals and sauces, mayonnaise and other condiments can give your pet an upset stomach. Bones from ribs and chicken wings can be a choking hazard for your dog as well. Stick to food made specifically for cats or dogs to keep your pet’s stomach healthy.

Keep your pet’s well-being in the front of your mind this summer so you both can make the most out of the next couple of beautiful months!

Is it the freedom to choose how and where you spend each day? Is it the freedom to take part in activities you enjoy, to spend time with friends? These are the questions I ask myself this Fourth of July.

I have the privilege of working for Al Sigl Community of Agencies, a collaborative community network serving independent nonprofits that serve over 50,000 children and adults with special needs in our community.

My work allows me to meet people whose lives have been touched by Al Sigl Member Agencies and hear their stories. Stories like Christopher’s, who weighed less than 2 pounds at birth. Over the years, with help from the staff at CP Rochester, Christopher has progressed from crawling, to using a walker, to striding confidently with the assistance of just his canes.

I’ve met Nicky, who discovered he wasn’t having trouble paying attention in class when he stared off into space—he was actually having seizures. At Epilepsy-Pralid’s Camp EAGR, Nicky didn’t have to worry about his seizures, he could focus fun stuff like riding horses and making s’mores. Getting to attend sleep-away camp on his own each summer helped Nicky become confident enough to travel to Washington D.C. to meet with members of Congress to help educate others about epilepsy.

I’ve talked with Jason, who looks forward to seeing the white and blue Medical Motor Service bus pull into his driveway to take him to the self-advocacy organization where he volunteers each day to help create a more accessible, inclusive community. The staff at Medical Motors, like Courtney, look forward to hearing from Jason each day, too, as his smile is contagious, even over the phone.

I can admire how Peggy, who was diagnosed with MS in 1991, regularly volunteers at National MS Society chapter events like Walk MS to give back to her community. After thinking her days of enjoying outdoor activities like cycling, canoeing, and kayaking were over, today Peggy is also having fun and staying active with the help of Rochester Rehabilitation’s SportsNet, an adaptive recreation program.

I’ve learned how, after serving as an aircraft mechanic during World War II, Henry developed severe hearing loss later in life. Talking to Henry’s daughter, Jackie, I heard how Rochester Hearing and Speech Center fit Henry with hearing aids specifically designed for his type of hearing loss. On the drive home, Jackie remembered how Henry marveled at hearing the sound of the car’s turn signal – from the back seat! Now Henry can enjoy everyday conversations with his wife and family, and he is once again able to fully enjoy outings like going to the theatre or movies.

I’ve been incredibly impressed by Chandra’s story of moving from poverty to self-sufficiency in just two years. Chandra came to the U.S. from Bhutan seeking
greater opportunities for his family but had difficulty finding work. Rochester Rehabilitation’s Employment Connection helped him find a job. A hard worker, Chandra was soon recommended for a higher-paying position. He has already saved enough to purchase his own car to travel to work and provide for his family.

Every day, Al Sigl Member Agencies help people of all abilities lead more independent lives. They help people stay connected in the community, enjoy everyday activities, find work, keep active, live on their own, and more.

As we all mark this Fourth of July holiday, I invite you to join Al Sigl in celebrating Independence Day EVERY day.

Please share these stories of community, connection, and independence with family and friends this holiday weekend. I also hope you will consider making a gift in celebration of these six individuals, and the thousands more whose lives you will help. Please visit www.alsigl.org/independence to learn more.

A lot of times, people have less-than-stellar things to say about Rochester, but I believe there are a lot of really neat opportunities here if you look in the right places. For example, I recently learned of a project called Spoon River Rochester, which is being organized by Method Machine.

Basically, they are hosting an open casting call for people to read poems from Spoon River Anthology, by Edgar Lee Masters. These are poems about people from a small town called Spoon River – but the catch is all the poems are from people who are dead. Method Machine describes Spoon River Rochester as “site-specific, large scale, community performance art. Think flash mob meets zombie walk and has a performance art baby.” The performances will take place during the Fringe Festival September 26 and 27.

I’ve never been in a flash mob, but I love zombies. Plus, I was in numerous plays in middle and high school. Sounds like a great opportunity to bring those theater skills back to life! It’s something that’s a little scary because I’ve never done before and I don’t know anyone else who’s doing it. But sometimes the things that are scary end up being the most rewarding. Rochester is fortunate to have open opportunities like this!

Method Machine needs at least 244 people to participate. Interested? Learn more at spoonriverrochester.com. It’s sure to be a deadfully good time!

LinkedIn occasionally has a trending topic that bloggers will post about from various industries, the most recent one has bloggers sending advice back in time to themselves at age 22. Even though 22 isn’t too far behind me, I was surprised at how much I have already learned since graduating from college. So here it is, short and sweet, what I know now that I wish I knew then:

1) Don’t worry about living at home with your Mom for a little while after graduation. You are lucky that your situation allows for it and that your Mom is actually not Maleficent after all. Doing your own dishes and paying for the internet is a cake walk compared to the bills and responsibilities you will have living on your own. Cherish the constant cleanliness and money you are saving each week, you will be so thankful that you did.

2) Yes, those shoes are extremely cute, but the credit card bill and student loan bills you have accrued aren’t going to pay themselves. Pay off as much of your little debt as possible. Clothing stores, electronic stores and any other small debts you have accrued during your college years should be the first to go. Always pay more than the minimum amount and put more towards the smaller debt first. Don’t be afraid to call the company and work out an APR% negotiation. Trust me, it works.

3) Keep all of your important documents in a safe and organized place. Separate your bills into Health Care, Auto (insurance and vehicle documents), Student Loans, Credit Cards, and Utilities to start. I highly recommend Mint.com to keep track of budgets and your everyday transactions from your debit card. As scary as it can be to look at it all, you will feel better knowing you are on top of all of your finances and know where you stand. This is a great step toward improving your credit score.

4) Don’t be afraid of your circle getting smaller. The older you get, the easier it is to see who your true friends are. Your beliefs change, your location changes, your relationship status changes. People grow up and grow apart, that doesn’t mean your friendship didn’t mean anything or that you are no longer friends. With that being said, know when to cut ties with people who aren’t adding to your life or supporting you in a positive way. You will regret keeping people around longer than they deserved.

5) Don’t worry. The percentage of tough days that you have made it through thus far is 100%. Nothing is ever as bad as it seems. Take a step back from the situation before you react or make any decisions and remember that even though it may not have been the path you thought you wanted, it may be leading you to the path you really need. Have faith.

6) It is perfectly okay to start from the bottom. In the real world, your degree is a starting point to your career, but it is not a guarantee. Be eager to learn, eager to work long hours, eager to do the grunt work- but keep your eyes and ears open. Ask questions and learn as much as you can from those around you who are performing well. At my last position, I would ask each rep for tips and strategies and try them out on my own. It is always great to have your own personal style, but sometimes you get there by mixing in what works for others. Eventually you will not be the newbie, or the recent graduate, but someone that people come to and ask questions because you are the expert, or you do that task very well.

7) Find a mentor, someone who inspires you, or a few people who inspire you. Let them motivate you to stay on your path and don’t be afraid to take risks no matter how silly you might feel. Henry Rollins said, “You must do what others don’t to achieve what others won’t,” and sometimes that means going outside of your comfort zone. So what if everyone else is being 22 and going to bars every weekend and watching TV every night. It is okay to continue studying things that interest you, and working hard right out of the gate. It is okay to have an early start to the rest of your life.

8 ) Don’t compare yourself to others. It might take a while to learn this but it is a must. Trying to keep up with the Joneses or the Kardashians guarantees that you will ultimately be unhappy because you think what you have is never enough. Social Media is a highlight reel of everyone elses life. Just the good, not the bad or the ugly. At the end of the day it is you, your God and the people you love that you have to answer to, everything else is just fluff.

9) Listen to your Mother. She is wise and has been through it all. More importantly, she’s the only one who loves you without any reservations and under all conditions. Stop pretending she is annoying and needs to get her own life, you are her life, and one day you will thank her for all she has done.

Don’t tell my mom I said this.

10) Go out in the world and do something for others. Educate yourself, educate others. Choose positivity over negativity every time. Spread the light. Be the light.

The City of Rochester announced this week in a fabulously progressive decision that they would be adding transgendered health benefits for city employees and their families in the city medical plan (effective January 1st).

When the ever-infamously terrible Rochester Resident trash-talking radio hosts, Kimberly and Beck caught wind of this news, they decided to berate, mock and laugh offensively in a 12 minute rant insulting transgendered people and about how terrible this was for the city while making countless jokes about transgendered people and their bodies. Several times Kimberly called transgendered people “Nut jobs.” Then they laughed at and mocked a woman that called into the station to say how offensive they were being, “sir.” The radio hosts both equated reconstructive surgery for transgendered people to cosmetic breast enhancement and taking care of facial wrinkles and jokingly suggested that the reason the city would do this could be that Lovely Warren could be related to someone that wants to have a surgery due to being transgendered. The hosts even went as low as criticizing and mocking a local transgendered high school student for being able to play on the girl’s softball team. The hosts then ended the segment with Aerosmith’s song, “Dude looks like a lady.”

This sort of segment on the radio is out of line, disgusting and pure ignorant hate.

Its nonsense broadcasts like this that spreads harmful misinformation, encourages bullying and shouldn’t be tolerated by radio stations nor its advertisers. I plan on contacting the radio station to express my disgust as well as express my disappointment to their advertisers to let them know I’m not happy with them supporting such hateful transphobic radio personalities. If you want to do the same, you can contact 98.9 The Buzz here.

In a time where state by state we are working towards eliminating hate and discrimination we don’t need to employee hateful personalities. We really need to stop giving people like this a platform. Come on 98.9 The Buzz, please step onto the right side of hate today and give Kimberly and Beck the Boot. Until then, I will be listening to other stations entirely.

Kimberly has since doubled down on her ignorance by tweeting “‏@Kimberly989buzz: Freedom of Speech includes the freedom to offend others. You aren’t granted a right to not be offended in this life #getoverit#ROC.” People like that and quasi-celebrities everywhere need to understand that their actions, although they have the freedom of speech, they should not and are not exempt from consequences. I will repeat: freedom of speech does not mean we, the consuming public, will not react upon you.

15 million people in the United States have food allergies while one in every 13 children is affected. That is roughly 2 kids in every school classroom. Food allergies are not a fad, a choice nor an over-reaction to be taken lightly. Just because kids didn’t routinely have them way back when our parents were kids doesn’t make them any less real or serious today. Food allergies are on the rise more than ever before, in fact there was an 18% increase in food allergy from 1997-2007. Food allergies are a potentially life threatening medical condition that is silently haunting our classrooms. This week, May 11-17, is Food allergy awareness week, and just this year the FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) has expanded this important awareness to the entire month of May.

People can be allergic to any foods, but the most common foods, which account for 90% of reactions, are: Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish. Reactions can range from a mild response to anaphylaxis, a very serious and potentially deadly reaction.

I have personally witnessed a very young child experience an awfully serious allergic reaction when he came into contact with milk. It was terrifying to see him in a very short time experience a severe anaphylactic reaction. We had a very short window of time to get him to the emergency room to get him the life saving treatment he needed.

Another trend that has been happening with the rise of food allergies is the rise of food allergy bullies. There have been many cases of children on the playground threatening to kill other kids by purposely exposing them to known food allergens. (This happens more often than you’d think). And it’s important to teach your children that this is unacceptable. This threat is very serious, as approximately 1,000 children die every year in our country due to food allergies.

Ways to protect our children and their classmates are to teach our children to not share food with others. One bite of a cookie, a splash of milk or a hug and a kiss after eating a peanut or cheese cracker for example can potentially be very dangerous to a child with allergies. Make yourself aware of the known allergies in your child’s classroom or if any children in their school have allergies. Read labels and be aware of what you are sending in for lunch or snacks. Play it safe and do not send in foods with common allergy triggers for birthday snacks. It may seem unfair that your child cannot enjoy the foods they like because of other children’s sensitivities, but avoiding potentially killing another human being is worth the extra measures it takes in being cautious and considerate. Don’t send your child to school dripping in peanut butter. Think about all the things they will touch during the day that become deadly weapons to an unsuspecting child with allergies.

It’s important for teachers and restaurant employees to get proper allergy training to recognize signs and symptoms of allergic reactions. It’s also important to make sure there are posters hung in classrooms and cafeterias on symptoms and what to do in case of serious allergic reactions.

Symptoms of anaphylaxis are:

Anaphylaxis is highly likely to be occurring when any ONE of the following happens within minutes to hours after ingestion of the food allergen:

1. A person has symptoms that involve the skin, nose, mouth or gastrointestinal tract and either:

The Rochester's Young Professionals blog is the place to look for the latest updates on the young professionals scene in Rochester, from career advice to networking events.

Contributors

Kate McGowan is a former Rochester television news reporter now working in the non-profit sector for the nation’s leading children’s charity, Make-A-Wish. She is passionate about inspiring young professionals to use their talents in becoming more actively involved in their communities. Follow her on Twitter at @KateMcGowan

Toni Lynn Arena: I am a digital media specialist by day and a fitness loving, animal activist by night. When I'm not working on self-improvement inside and out, I work with other philanthropists to build awareness within the young professional community and help make a difference.

Andrea Raethka earned a bachelor's in History, Sociology and Women's Studies from the College of Brockport. She is a mother of three young children and is always up for exploring new places for kiddie play dates. She enjoys good food, local shopping and keeping up to date on news, politics and public school issues. Find Andrea on Twitter: @Mango1531.

Ashley Dewey is an internet marketing blogger from Victor who shares thoughts about life and pets.

Audrey Burns is a reader, writer and full-time nostalgist who writes about cultural and social issues in Rochester.

Cynthia Pacia shares thoughts about giving and living in the Rochester area.

Eastman Young Professionals share the latest happenings at George Eastman House.

Habitat for Humanity Young Professionals share life and non-profit experiences, and their journey within Rochester’s changing landscape.

Jason Schwingle is a native of Rochester. He shares his thoughts and ideas on bringing young professionals back to Rochester and to downtown.

Jenna Kempie is the Social Media Chair for the Rochester Young Professionals, and is contributing posts on RYP activities and other helpful insights for young professionals in the community. Jenna enjoys getting out and exploring the area, and talking to people about their Rochester experiences, print and technology - on and offline. Follow Jenna on Twitter: @JennaKempie

Jennifer Galvez Caton is an active arts volunteer who shares her passion and perspective on theater, film, dance and music with young professionals in the Rochester area.

Jerome Nathaniel is a 2011 graduate of the University of Rochester, where he was an executive editor for the Campus Times and a service fellow with the Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence. Now, the Brooklyn native has returned to Rochester as an Americorp Vista at Foodlink, where he's serving as a hunger advocate.

Kayleigh Nutting is a non-profit professional that came to Rochester for college and never left. She is a graduate student and works full time planning special events and fundraising. Follow her as she writes about kicking back, giving back and appreciating the Flower City.

Kristine Caronna, a young professional blogger from Greece, shares her thoughts and updates.

Leah Shearer is a young professional and two-time cancer survivor from Rochester. She shares her unique perspective on all things - the serious, the silly and everything in between.

Luticha Doucette is a student researcher, activist and humanist who sees the world from a seated position. She chronicles life as a disable person seeking a PhD. position in biophysics at Yale or John Hopkins universities, and beyond.

Maria Thomas is the chair of RocCity Coalition, who is passionate about education and the needs of city youth. She writes about various opportunities for young professionals to get involved in the community.

Olga Podzorov is an agent with Nothnagle Realtors. She is a community activist and passionate philanthropist who is committed to working with young professionals. She covers a variety of real estate issues.

Ruth Harper-Rhode, a St. Bonaventure University graduate, does public relations for a local nonprofit. She moved to Rochester from a small city in 2011 and lived on Park Ave before moving to Penfield, where she currently resides.

Terra Keller sends updates from the staff at Foodlink, a popular regional food bank.

Stefanie Schwingle is a Rochester native and has worked at Wegmans Corporation for the past 10 years, but her interests lie in entrepreneurship and communication and her passions include urban living, photography, and cooking. Stefanie lives downtown with her husband and loves everyday life in the city.

Taren Greenidge earned her B.A. in Economics and Political Science, cum laude, in 2007 from Spelman College and her J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 2010. She is an associate at Littler Mendelson, P.C, a U.S.-based international law firm exclusively devoted to representing management in every aspect of labor and employment law. Taren is the president of the Black Young Professionals of Rochester, an auxiliary of the Urban League of Rochester, N.Y., Inc., which targets individuals ages 21 through 40 to foster growth and professional development, to empower members to achieve success and to strive to improve the community.